Rhythms that Sustain Us
Yesterday the wind whipped, and I just wanted to stay under my blanket. But the gusts kept calling for me—for me to discover the slow, steady unfolding in my own backyard.
I noticed the bird song sustaining as sunbeams elongated in late afternoon.
I noticed hope emerging in those same songs as new fragments of nests were nestled in thickets.
I noticed quiet growth in the speckled young leaf of the trout lily, unearthing itself in the back woods.
I noticed the elm buds peeking out of their winter cocoons.
I noticed the warming of burgundy tree buds as they unfurled on maple branches.
I noticed this body of mine craving deep dreaming and deep rest — even as the earth softens and the slumbers of late winter loosen.
I noticed that in this season, rest and creation can be held together — in the song of the wren, in the cup of a half-formed nest, and in the nascent bud of a daffodil.
This quiet, steady growth in all its forms is a sustaining rhythm. Muted and understated in a culture where loud, showy, and “more” usually get all the attention.
The whispers of this in-between season offer an alternative.
Where less is more.
Where slow is sustaining.
Where silence speaks volumes.
Where kneeling to meet the small wonders underfoot is a posture of strength.
Where life is not hurried or pressured, but steady and measured.
Where we can lean into our own gentle unfolding, so beautifully modeled to us by the stirrings in our surroundings.
Where we make space in our days for stillness. For noticing.
And for following the call of the wind.
A Creative Invitation
A “Wonder Wander:” You may want to wander in your surroundings to notice what’s unfolding around you—and perhaps take photos to document your observations.
Consider writing a poem or journal entry inspired by your “noticings,” weaving in some of these words that speak to you:
Quiet. Slow. Steady. Patient. Gentle. Trusting. Wisdom. Song.
